Printing unit of a rotary printing press

ABSTRACT

A printing unit for a rotary printing press utilizes form cylinders, blanket cylinders and ink cylinders and transfer rollers. Intermediate support rings are provided on these cylinders or rollers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a printing unit of a rotary printing press. Acylinder, roller or spindle has an outside support surface which islocated between barrel ends of a barrel of the cylinder. A supportdevice acts on this support surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Printing units, wherein the circumference of the form cylinderessentially corresponds to the section length of the associated foldingapparatus are known for job printing, for example from DE 44 29 891 A1,as well as for newspaper printing, for example from DE 198 15 294 A1.

In connection with the printing component for job printing, it isproposed to make the diameter of the rubber blanket cylinder at leasttwice as large as that of the form cylinder. With the printing componentfor newspaper printing, the forme cylinder and the rubber blanketcylinder have the same circumference, essentially the length of onenewspaper page. With both printing components for both press types, theplate cylinders can have the same length, for example 1240 mm, 1600 mm,etc. In principle it is possible with each type of printing component,i.e. also with the job printing unit, to print four newspaper pages nextto each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,733,707 discloses a printing unit, whose forme cylinderand counter-pressure cylinder have intermediate support rings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to create a printing unit.

This object is attained by providing at least one forme cylinder of arotary printing press with an outer support surface between barrel endsof its barrel. An ink roller or ink transfer roller of the printing unitalso has a support surface between its ends. Support devices arearranged outside of the barrels and act on the support surfaces.

The advantages which can be achieved by the present invention reside, inparticular, in that forme cylinders with a forme cylinder quotient(cylinder barrel length divided by the cylinder barrel diameter) i=3.5and larger can be used without oscillation strips worth mentioning. Itis possible to employ extremely long and slim forme cylinders. These canbe equipped for receiving sleeves or printing plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be explained in what follows by means ofpreferred embodiments. The associated drawings show in

FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a cylinder of a printing component with anintermediate support ring,

FIG. 2, a schematic representation of a printing component with afurther embodiment of a printing cylinder with an intermediate supportring in a view from above;

FIG. 3, the printing component of FIG. 2 without lateral frames in afront view,

FIG. 4, a further embodiment of a printing component with two printingunits for obverse and reverse printing with cylinders/rollers/spindleswith intermediate support rings,

FIG. 5, a printing component, wherein the printing units for obverse andreverse printing, respectively the axes of rotation of thecylinders/rollers/spindles for obverse printing, and those for reverseprinting are each located on a plane, wherein the planes intersect at anangle, and in

FIG. 6, a printing component with twice five printing units above eachother, wherein the ink units for the printing units are arranged in twohorizontally displaceable frames.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As represented in FIG. 1, the forme cylinders 01, or rubber blanketcylinders 02, in accordance with the invention have respective supportdevices 03, 04 within their barrel lengths m, for example centered,through which it is made possible to introduce forces, or counterforces,into them and in this way to maintain a support surface 20 of thesupport devices 03, or 04, in contact of a predeterminable intensitywith support devices of immediately adjoiningcylinders/rollers/spindles. For example, the support devices 03, 04 canbe made from special steel in the form of highly accurate true-running,preferably endless support rings, so-called “Schmitz rings”. The supportdevices 03, 04, which are advantageously provided between the left, 05,and right cylinder barrel end 10—they can be, but do not necessarilyhave to be in the center of the barrel, for example—will be called“intermediate support rings” for short in what follows. The supportdevices can also be arranged outside of the barrel center.

How forme cylinders, or ink transfer cylinders 01 (02) can beconstructed with intermediate support rings 03 (04) is represented inFIGS. 1 and 2 by way of example.

The following have been pulled onto a continuous heavy spindle 06(FIG. 1) with a left collar 07, which is adjoined by a left bearingjournal 08, for example starting at the left collar 07 toward the rightin a frictionally connected (press fit) manner and respectively restingagainst each other with their front:

an outer left support ring 09, a left adjusting tube 11 (a single orwhole number multiple width of a newspaper page plus an allowance), anintermediate support device 03 (04) (for example intermediate supportring), a right adjusting tube 12 (a single or whole number multiplewidth of a newspaper page plus an allowance), and an outer right supportring 15. Following this is a clamping nut 13 and a counter-nut 14, whoseinterior threads are in engagement with an exterior thread 16 of a leftthreaded element 17. Finally, the spindle 06 terminates in a rightbearing journal 18, on which a drive mechanism (motor or gear wheel)acts.

It is possible to exert pressure on the components 15, 12, 03, (04), 11and 09, which have been threaded onto the spindle 06 with press fit, sothat they are very closely pressed against each other. By means of thisit is achieved that a cylinder 01, or 02, of relatively great flexuralstrength is created.

The two bearing journals 08, 18 are drivingly seated in associatedlateral frames, not represented.

The adjusting tubes 11, 12 are equipped with plate tensioning and/orclamping devices, known per se (not represented), for example rubberblanket, clamping and/or tensioning devices. By means of these it ispossible to fasten printing plates, for example offset printing plates,or rubber blankets, on the forme cylinder 01, or the ink transfercylinder 02.

However, in the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 it would also bepossible to pull up endless printing forme sleeves 86 and rubber blanketsleeves 87 interchangeably. This is in particular possible in anarrangement in which only one intermediate support device 03, or 04, percylinder 01, 02 is provided, and no outer support rings 09, 15 areprovided.

A further embodiment of cylinders with an intermediate supportdevice—for example support rings—is represented in FIG. 2. A printingcomponent 40 consists of two printing units 45, 50, i.e. in this case afirst or right printing unit 45 and a second or left printing unit 50,as seen in FIG. 3. Each of the printing units 45, 50 has screen rollers21 (=rollers of arbitrarily structured surface), ink transfer cylinders22 and forme cylinders 23, each with an intermediate support device 24,for example an intermediate support ring 24, or 26, or 27. All of thecylinders 22, 23, or rollers 21, each have a barrel 55, which can havethe same, or different barrel lengths “m”. All the barrels 55 have anarea 19 free from outer support rings. A barrel length m of the barrels55 corresponds, for example, to a whole number multiple of the width ofa newspaper page, plus an allowance. The screen roller 21 can have adiameter corresponding to a whole number multiple of the diameter of theforme cylinder 23, the same as the rubber blanket cylinder 37, whichcooperates with the forme cylinder 23. However, it (21) can also havethe same or a lesser diameter than the forme cylinder 23.

All cylinders 22, 23, 37 and the roller 21 are seated in lateral frames28, 29 and are driven by gears or individual drive mechanisms.

The type of construction of the screen roller 21 in accordance with FIG.2 is a further example of the cylinder 01, 02 represented in FIG. 1. Allcylinders with an intermediate support ring 24, 26, 27 can be embodiedin accordance with either fit structural type.

In the preferred embodiments, the intermediate support ring 24, 26, 27is preferably made of one piece and consists of a—preferablyendless—circular support ring element 31 with a left, 32, and a rightcylinder-shaped shoulder 33. The shoulders 32, 33 have a width ofseveral centimeters and have a lesser diameter than the support ringelement 31. They are used for centering and as receptacles for a left,34, or right adjusting tube 36. The first ends of these are pushed ontothe shoulder 33, or 32, respectively assigned to them, of the supportdevice 24, and are connected with them in an interlocking andfrictionally connected (press fit) manner. Respective end pieces 97, or38, are fastened to a second end of the adjusting tubes 34, 36. Each ofthe end pieces 97, 38 has an adjusting pin 39, or 41, and furthermorerespectively one support pin 42, or 43. The support pins 42, 43 areseated in the lateral frames 28, 29 and project out of them at least onone lateral frame side. The adjusting pins 39, 41 are introduced intothe interior of the adjusting tubes 34, 36 and are each connected withthem by means of, for example interlocking press connections. The endpieces 97, 38 can be designed as highly accurate true-running races, orso-called endless or divided Schmitz rings (outer support rings).

For safety reasons, the end pieces 97, 38 are each connected via severalscrew rod connections 44, 46, or 47, 48 with the lateral faces of theshoulders 32, 33.

The running surface (support surface) 25 of the intermediate supportdevice 24 of the screen roller 21 rolls off, for example by beingpressed against it, on the running surface (support surface) 30 of theintermediate support device 26 of the ink transfer cylinder 22. Therunning surface (support surface) 30 of the intermediate support device26 of the ink transfer cylinder 22 additionally rolls off on the runningsurface (support surface) 35 of the intermediate support device 27 ofthe forme cylinder 23.

The forme cylinder 23 respectively acts in a manner known per setogether with the rubber blanket cylinder 37. In the preferredembodiment, the latter has no intermediate support device. However, itcan have one, if a longitudinally divided paper web 60 is to be printed.

The ink transfer roller 22 can have, respectively following its twobarrel ends 05, 10, a highly accurate left outer support ring 49 and aright outer support ring 51.

The ink supply roller 21, which is designed as a screen roller orstructured in another way, can have, respectively following its twobarrel ends 05, 10, a highly accurate left outer support ring 37 and aright outer support ring 38.

The forme cylinder 23 can have, respectively following its two barrelends 05, 10, a highly accurate left outer support ring 52 and a rightouter support ring 53.

The rubber blanket cylinder 37 can have, respectively following its twobarrel ends 05, 10, a highly accurate left outer support ring 54 and aright outer support ring 56.

The support rings 97, 49, 52, 54 of the left side of the cylinder 21,22, 23, 37, on the one hand, and on the other hand their support rings39, 51, 53, 56 on the right side of the cylinders are each frictionallyconnected in series.

The left support pins or journals 42, 57, 58, 59 of the cylinders 21,22, 23, into 37 are seated in bearings in the left lateral frame 28.

The right support pins or journals 43, 61, 62, 63 of the cylinders 21,22, 23, 37 are seated in bearings in the right lateral frame 29.

Inking of the screen roller 21 takes place by means of a chamber doctorblade 64, known per se.

The invention is not limited to the application of ink supply devicesvia chamber doctor blades 64. As represented in FIG. 4, inking of theprinting plates on the forme cylinder 23 can also take place by means ofa conventional inking unit 66, for example a pump, siphon or film Inkingunit, via two ink application rollers 65, 69, which have differentdiameters.

Both ink application rollers 65, 69 have one or several circularundercut(s) in the rubber-elastic coating (envelope) on theircircumference. It/they lies/lie respectively opposite the intermediatesupport ring(s) 27 of the forme cylinder 23. By means of the undercut(s)it is achieved that the support rings 27 of the forme cylinder 23 do notrun on rubber. An ink distribution roller 76, 77 with adjustable axialstroke is paired with each of the ink application rollers 65, 69. They(76, 77) have an envelope without undercuts, made of a hard oleophilicmaterial, for example polyamide, copper, etc. They receive their inkapplication via respective ink transfer rollers 73, 74 withoutintermediate support rings, but with a rubber-elastic oleophilic coating(envelope), for example in the form of two rubber blankets arrangedaxially next to each other.

The rollers 73, 74 also have one or several circular undercut(s) in therubber-elastic envelope on their circumference or—as already stated—tworubber blankets next to each other. The undercut(s) lie respectivelyopposite the intermediate support ring(s) 75 of the ink transfercylinder 67. The latter can have a left and a right outer support ring.The surface of the ink transfer cylinder 67 is covered with a hardoleophilic layer (for example polyamide, copper) to the left and rightof the intermediate support ring(s) 75, the same as the rollers 76, 77.In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 4, the ink supply tothe inking units for the printing units 45, 50 is provided from the inkduct 83 via a siphon roller 84 and an intermediate roller 85 to the inktransfer cylinder 67.

A support cylinder 71 (support spindle 71), which has at least oneintermediate support ring 70, is provided in the space between the inktransfer cylinder 67 and the forme cylinder 23. However, it can alsohave two additional, i.e. located on the left or right outside, supportrings, which are connected in a series frictional connection with theremaining outer support rings 37, 23, and 67.

The intermediate support ring(s) 70 is/are in rolling contact with theintermediate support ring(s) 75 of the non-screened ink transfercylinder 67, as well as with the intermediate support ring(s) 27 of theforme cylinder 23. The oleophilic coatings of the ink applicationrollers 65, 69 working together with the forme cylinder 23 have—asalready mentioned above—an endless undercut, the same as all rollershaving an intermediate support ring. It is respectively used to providespace for the oppositely located support ring, and is respectively flushwith the width of the support ring involved. The undercut is of coursesomewhat wider than the width of the running surface of the intermediatesupport ring.

All preferred embodiments so far described have in common, that all axesof rotation of the essential cylinders (37), 23, 22, 21, which areinvolved in printing both sides of a paper web 60, of the left and rightprinting units 50, 45 with and without intermediate support rings (FIG.3), or (37), 23, 71, 67, are located parallel with each other in acommon plane 78, as shown in FIG. 3. The plane 78 can extendhorizontally, but also at an angle alpha in respect to the horizontal(FIG. 6).

However, it is also possible that the previously mentioned essentialcylinders of a first (right) printing unit 45 for printing the obverseside, and that of a second (left) printing unit 50 for printing thereverse side, are arranged in separate planes 81, 82 which extend insuch a way that they intersect in an acute, right, or an obtuse, leftangle beta (FIG. 5).

The diameter of the ink application roller 67 preferably is a wholenumber multiple of the diameter, for example twice the diameter, of theforme cylinder 23. It has at least one intermediate support ring 75 andcan additionally have two outside located support rings. On it surfaceto the left and right of the intermediate support ring(s) it is coatedwith an oleophilic endless coating, for example rubber, Rilsan, copper,etc. However, it can also be covered by a rubber blanket on metalsupports. It is also possible to provide sleeves with oleophilicsurfaces.

The left, 88, and right inking units 89—in the preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 6 respectively consisting of the ink transfer roller 22and the roller 21 with a structured oleophilic surface—respectivelyassigned to the left and right forme cylinders 23 are respectivelyseated in a common, horizontally displaceable left frame 91, ordriveably (for example by means of individual motors) in a right frame92.

All essential cylinders, rollers (21, 22, 23, 37-37, 23, 22, 21) of aprint location consist of two printing units 50, 45, which are locatedparallel with each other respectively in a common plane 78, which isinclined at an angle alpha in respect to the horizontal.

A so-called “tens tower” (“tens” printing unit) is represented in FIG.6. The printing component 40 consists of five left printing units 45,arranged above each other, and five right printing units 50, arrangedabove each other. The left, 45, and right printing units 50 respectivelyconstitute a print location for obverse and reverse printing. Therespective rubber blanket cylinders 37 of each print location, whichoperate together, can—the same as all rubber blanket cylinders in theabove described exemplary embodiments—be placed against and away fromeach other in a known manner (for example via driven eccentricbushings).

While preferred embodiments of a printing unit of a rotary printingpress in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fullyand completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in theart that various changes could be made without departing from the truespirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing unit of a rotary printing presscomprising: at least one forme cylinder; a forme cylinder barrel, saidforme cylinder barrel having spaced first and second forme cylinderbarrel ends including first and second forme cylinder barrel end supportsurfaces; a forme cylinder intermediate support ring with a formecylinder intermediate support ring outer support surface, said formecylinder intermediate support ring being positioned between said spacedfirst and second forme cylinder barrel ends; and an ink unit, said inkunit having at least one of an ink roller and an ink transfer cylinder,said at least one of said ink roller and said ink transfer cylinderhaving barrel ends, said at least one of said ink roller and said inktransfer cylinder barrel ends having barrel end support surfaces, saidat least one of said ink roller and said ink transfer cylinder furtherhaving an intermediate support ring with an outer surface between saidbarrel ends, said intermediate support ring outer surface of said formecylinder intermediate support ring acting against said intermediatesupport ring outer surface of said intermediate support ring of said atleast one of said ink roller and said ink transfer cylinder and saidbarrel end support surfaces of said forme cylinder barrel and of said atleast one of said ink roller and said ink transfer cylinder barrelacting against each other.
 2. The printing unit of claim 1 wherein saidinking unit includes both said ink roller and said ink transfercylinder.
 3. The printing unit of claim 1 wherein each said intermediatesupport rings is fixed against relative rotation with respect to itsrespective one of said forme cylinder barrel ends, said ink rollerbarrel ends and said transfer cylinder barrel ends.
 4. The printing unitof claim 1 wherein said intermediate support rings are each circularsupport rings.
 5. The printing unit of claim 1 wherein said supportsurfaces are level.
 6. The printing unit of claim 1 further including ablanket cylinder having a plurality of axially spaced rubber blankets.7. The printing unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one forme cylinderhas a plurality of axially spaced printing plates.
 8. The printing unitof claim 1 wherein each said intermediate support ring is locatedapproximately in the center of its respective barrel.
 9. The printingunit of claim 1 wherein each said support ring is a Schmitz ring. 10.The printing unit of claim 1 wherein each of said forme cylinder andsaid at least one of said ink roller and said ink transfer cylinder eachhave an axis of rotation, said axes of rotation being located on acommon plane.
 11. The printing unit of claim 10 wherein said at leastone forme cylinder and said at least one of said ink roller and said inktransfer cylinder form a printing component.
 12. The printing unit ofclaim 10 wherein said common plane extends horizontally.
 13. Theprinting unit of claim 10 wherein said common plane extends at an anglewith respect to a horizontal plane.